Filling-detecting mechanism for looms.



No. 834.546 PATENTBD 00 130, 1906. E. s. woo n.

FILLING DETECTING, MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATIOI TILED 001. 28. 1905.

11;}lM1l!HI #iiillllllllllllllllllllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

EVERETT S. WOOD, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPO- RATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application filed October 28,1905. Serial No. 284.812.

' To mZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVERETT S. W001), a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Filling-Detecting Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in

connection with the accompanying drawings,

is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to thatportion of a loom mechanism whereby the presence or absence of the filling is detected, so that a change in the operation of the loom may be effected automatically upon detection of filling failure by breakage or running out.

One of the objects of my invention is the production of simple and effective means to prevent improper movement of the filling detector or fork when engaged by'the filling, thereby reducing. vibration in the detector and. also preventing excessive tilting thereof when engaged by intact filling.

My present invention, while not restricted to such use, is particularly adapted for doubledetector looms, wherein two filling-detectors are employed to detect filling failure on alternate picks, one of said detectors directly controlling the operation of mechanism for changing .the operation of the loom, the other detector upon detection of failure of filling causing suchmechanism to be operated by or through the first-named detector. A loom of this'eharacter is shown and described in United States Patent to Northrop, N 0. 789,291, dated May 9, 1905, and I have herein shown my invention as applied to a loom of such character, but with certain changes in structure, as will be referred. to in detail hereinafter. In such-a loom the outward movement of the auXiliary-fork slide'imparts an initial outward movement to the main-fork slide before the cooperating vibrating actu ator or; weft-hammer begins its outward stroke.

An important object ofmy present invention is the production of simple and effective means to control the main-fork tail in a loom of the type referred to from the instant that the auxiliary slide begins its outward movement until the main actuator has moved outward and engaged the main fork tail, the initial movement referred to of the main slide manifestly moving the main-fork tail outward prior to the beginning of the outward stroke of the main actuator.

In the Northrop patent referred to looseness in the connections between the main and auxiliary slides or failure to set the latter to get the maximum possible movement in practice sometimes results. in failure of the fected, and consequently the guardfails to accomplish its purpose ,that is, if a move ment ofthree-eighths of an inch be necessary to bring the fork-tail against the guard and a' movement of only five-sixteenths, of an inch is effected the guard .will not perform its proper function.

In the present construction the beginning of the stroke is the effectivepart thereof, and

as only about an eighth of an inch is neces-} sary itmakes no difference whatever whether the movement of the auxiliary slide gives the initial movement of the main slide three- I eighths or three-sixteenths of an inch, for in my present construction the control, of thev main-fork tail is complete during the effective part or beginning of the stroke.

The various novel features of construction and operation embodied in my present invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure '1 is a top plan view, centrally broken out, of a suflicient portion of a double-detector'loom to be understood with one embodiment of my resent invention applied thereto, the loom eing illustrated as rovided with automatic filling replenis ing mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the filling-detector .and adjacent parts shown at the left, Fig. 1, viewing the same from the right, the filling detector being in normal po' sition and with the nearer side" of the slide broken out. Fig. 3. is a similar view, but taken just after the detector has been engaged and tilted'by the filling, the vibrator having begun its forward movement. Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. '2 and 3, but showing the j main-fork tail to reach the overhanginggu'ard I when initial movement of the main slide 1s cfparts in the position assumed' at the'endfjof the initial movement of the slide brought about by or through detection of filling failure by the auxiliary detector, as will be referred to.

Referring to Fig. 1, the partly-shown hopper F and transferrerf at the right are of the well-known Northrop type of filling-replenishing mechanism, the operation of such mechanism being controlled by the rockshaft d the rocking or turning whereof is effected by or through one or other of the two detecting devices, which are located at opposite sides of the loom. The said detecting devices are herein shown as tilting fillingforks f and g, pivotally mounted in usual manner on their movable supports or slides f g the former cooperating with the arm at on the rock-shaft d, while slide g cooperates with the arm (1 also fast on the rockshaft, the forks having tails f 9 respectively, to cooperate with their corresponding vibrators, shown as weft-hammers W and W. All of these parts are substantially as in Patent No. 789,291, referred to, except that herein the hooks on the vibrators are alike and rigidly attached, each hook w having a shoulder w to cooperate with the fork-tail and having a somewhat-raised cam portion to between the shoulder and point of the hook for a purpose to be referred to.

In Patent No. 789,291 detection of filling failure by the main or left-hand fork f acted directly, through cooperation between the fork-tail and the weft-hammer, to rock the shaft (1, and thereby effect a change in the operation of the loom-to wit, a replenishment of filling .in the running shuttle; but if the auxiliary detector first detected the failure of filling an initial outward movement was imparted to the main slide f thereby withdrawing the fork f from detecting position, so that the filling replenishment was thereafter assured directly by the main filling-detecting device. Detection of filling failure by either detector was made effective to arrest take-up, and herein a similar operation is contemplated. Herein the latch-carrier 17, Fig. 1, mounted on the main slide f X and having a cross-bar 18 to cooperate with certain notches in the slide, and the latch 20 on the carrier to cooperate at times with the arm N of the knock-off lever, are substantially as in the patent just referred to, the outer end of the latch-carrier being downturned or hooked, as in such patent, so that turning of the rock-shaft d by or through the detection of filling failure by the auxiliary detector 9 will effect, through the arm (1, the initial outward movement of the main slide, as hereinbefore referred to. By reference to said patent it will be seen that the hook 00- operating with the main-fork tail is of peculiar construction, it having an overhanging shoulder or guard which so acts after initial movement of the main slide as to retain the hook and fork-tail in proper relation until the main vibrator moves outward and causes its hook-shoulder to engage the fork-tail. While thoroughly effective for the purposes for which it was designed, the practical use of such patented structure gave rise at times to some objectionable features in addition to the cost of the peculiar hook. For instance, in practice the cooperation of the hook and fork acted at times to lift the weft-hammer from contact with its cam, straining the fork and causing it to do something it should not do and was not designed to do and requiring an unduly heavy fork to withstand such accidental strains. Furthermore, there was nothing in the patented structure to restrict the vibration of the main fork in the normal operation of the loom, so that very unnecessary jumping or vibration was at times effected, disturbing the proper action of the fork.

In my present invention I have devised a novel controller for the fork by means of which I am enabled to dispense with the peculiar form of hook and have by a very simple device not only insured the cooperation of the main fork and its vibrator-hook at the proper time, but I have also reduced the fork vibration to a minimum.

Upon the main slide f I have secured a combined stop and safety device, and in the present embodiment of my invention it is shown as a piece of resilient or spring wire 1, bent to form an inverted bow 2 and having its free end extended downward and rearward, as at 3, and then laterally, as at 4, Figs. 1 and 4, the part 4 normally overhanging the fork-tailf as shown. An upright stud or detent 5, fixedly secured to the stand or guide f is preferably slightly grooved at its upper end at 6 to receive the wire adjacent the outer limb of the bow 2 and to thereby retain the stop in normal position (see Figs. 1 and 2) with the lateral bend or tip 4 somewhat above the fork-tail. When so positioned, the stop permits tilting of the fork by engagement with the filling from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, but it prevents any undue or abnormal movement, as will be obvious. If, however, the shuttle should be so positioned in its fli ht as to come in contact with the fork, the a inormal strain upon the latter will cause the stop to yield, owing to the spring-like character thereof, thus obviating any bending or other damage to the fork-tines.

The hook w is so shaped between its shoulder to and the point or tip that a cam-surface w is provided so constructed that it passes under the fork-tail when the fork is tilted, as shown in Fig. 3, and prevents the fork from returning to normal detecting position until on the return stroke of the vibrator the hookshoulder clears the fork-tail. Such construction of the hook is not claimed herein per 86, as the same forms a part of the subject-matter of another application filed by Inc-and pending concurrently; but the cooperation ofthe stop and the cam on the hook with the fork-tail is claimed herein, the. two devices serving to deaden or eliminate any vibration of the fork over and above what should occur by engagement with the filling.

It will be understood, of course, that the outward movement of the hook occurs in such timing with relation to the detecting action of the fork that the shoulder w will be clear of the tail f when the latter impinges against the stop. Now if the main fork detects filling failure it will not be tilted, the hook cooperates with its tail, and the main slide f is moved outward in usual manner;

but a very slight movement of the slide serves to disengage the stop and the detent 5,

as in Fig. 5.

Immediately the spring or re siliency of the stop causes the bend 4 at its free end to descend onto the fork-tail, re-

maining in engagement therewith until on the return movement of the slide the stop reengages the detent 5. On such inward movement the rounded corner 2 of the sto rides up on the detent in the groove 6 and is restored to normal position in ample time to permit tilting'of the fork at the proper instant. v

The initial outward movement of the main slide f effected by or through outward movement ofthe slide g upon detection of filling failure by the auxiliary detector g, is sufficient to effect release of the stop in the manner described and as shown in Fig. 5, and

then the stop acts as a safety device, so con trolling the main fork as to insure the cooperation between the main-fork tail and its ad- 1 jacent vibrator when the latter swings forward to move the. main slide outward the full'stroke to effect the proper change in the operation of the loom.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that fork vibration is limited. and practically. reduced to a minimum whether the structure be used, on a single or a double fork loom and that in the latter case, with the general arrangement such as shown in Fig. 1, the main-fork slide is not only given an initial movement, (to thereby render the main fork irresponsive to filling,) but said fork is prevented from tilting even if by chance the filling should engage the same, and proper cooperation of the fork and its vibrator is assured. The means-for accomplishing such results is at once simple, cheap to make, and easily applied and thoroughly efficient, whether for single or double fork looms.

Both of the filling detectors or forks are shown in Fig. 1 as provided with the controlling instrumentality described in detail in connection with the main fork, the limitation of fork vibration being the same in either case, while the particular operation of detectors, normally 'the fork-controlling. device with relation'to the main fork upon initial movement of its slide is of course not present with respect to the auxiliary fork.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a loom, in combination, two filling.-

failure on alternate picks, a movable support for each detector, mechanism to change the operation of the loom, and directly controlled by one of the detectors, and means operative upon detection of filling failure by. the other detector to cooperate directly with the first-named detector and prevent movement thereof by fillingengagement, to thereby insure the operation of said directly-consupport for the first-named detector.

2. In a loom, in combination, two tilting. filling-detectors normally adapted to detect filling failure on alternate picks, filling-re: plenishing mechanism the operation whereof is directly controlled by one of the detectors, and yielding means operative upon detection of filling failure by the other detector to engage and restrain the first-named detector from tilting movement and thereby insure the operation of the replenishing mechanism.

3. In a loom, in combination, two tilting filling-detectors normally adapted to detect filling failure on alternate picks, filling-replenishing mechanism the operation whereof is directly controlled by'one ofthe detectors, means automatically operative by or through detection of filling failure by the other de' tector to effect a slight bodily movement of the first-named detector away from its normal detecting position, a support for such detector and a device mounted on said support to engage and prevent tilting of such detector upon such movement, to thereby insure filling replenishment.

4.. In a loom, main and auxiliary tilting filling-forks, filling-replenishing mechanism the operation whereof is directly controlled by the main fork upon detection of filling failure thereby, a stop for said fork to preadapted to detect filling.

trolled mechanism, said means being mounted on the IIO vent tilting thereof, and a detent to nor-'- mally cooperate with the stop, detection of filling failure by the auxiliary fork disengaging the detentand stop and permitting the latter to act upon. the main fork, whereby non-tilting of the said fork insures the operation of the replenishing mechanism.

5. In a loom, main and auxiliary tilting filling-forks, filling-replenishing mechanism the operation whereof is directly controlled by the main fork upon detection of filling failure thereby, a yielding stop for said fork to prevent tiltlng thereof, and a detent to normally cooperate with the stop, detection of filling failure by the auxiliary fork disengagyielding ing the detent and stop and permitting the latter to act upon the main fork, whereby non-tilting of the said fork insures the operation of the replenishing mechanism, the stop yielding to permit tilting of the main fork if it be engaged by the shuttle.

6. In a loom, main and auxiliary tilting filling-forks, their slides, filling-replenishing mechanism directly controlled as to its operation by the main fork upon detection of filling failure thereby, a yielding stop mounted on the main slide and adapted at times to engage and prevent tilting of the main fork, a detent to normally retain the stop out of such engagement, and means operative by or through detecting action of the auxiliary fork to move the main slide far enough to disengage the detent and stop, to thereby insure the operation of the replenishing mechanism.

7. In fillin -detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a slide on which the fork is mounted, and yielding means on the slide to limit filling induced movement of the fork while permitting additional movement thereof if engaged by the shuttle.

8. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork, adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a slide on which the fork is mounted, and means on the slide to limit tilting movement of the fork, combined with a device to cooperate with and retain for a predetermined period the fork in the position in which it is moved by the filling.

9. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a movable support on which the fork is fulcrumed, a stop carried by the support and overhanging a part of the fork, normally permitting proper tilting movement thereof, and a relatively fixed detent to normally engage and retain the stop in such position, movement of the support to disengage the detent and stop permitting the latter to co operate directly with and prevent tilting of the fork.

10. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a vibrating hook having a shoulder to cooperate with the fork upon filling failure, and a device independent of the hook to at such time press upon the fork and maintain it in cooperation with the hook.

11. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a vibrating hook having a shoulder to cooperate with the fork upon. filling failure, a device independent of the hook and normally acting to prevent improper tilting of see, 546

the fork,- and means to permit said device to engage the fork when the hook cooperates therewith, to maintain such cooperation.

12. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a slide on which the fork is mounted, a vibrating hook having a shoulder to cooperate with the fork and. effect movement of the slide upon filling failure, a resilient stop on the slide and normally positioned above the fork, to permit filling-induced movement thereof, and means to cause the stop to engage the fork when the slide is moved, to maintain the hook and fork in cooperation.

18. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by the filling when intact, a slide on which the fork is mounted, a vibrating member, and normally inoperative means to maintain cooperation of said member and the filling-fork after a predetermined outward movement of the slide has been effected, said means including a part movable with the slide and a part fixed relatively thereto.

14. In filling-detecting mechanism for looms, a filling-fork adapted to be intermittingly engaged and tilted by intact filling, a movable support on which the fork is fulcrumed, a stop overhanging a part of the fork and normally permitting proper tilting movement thereof, and a detent to retain the stop in such position, movement of the support to disengage the detent and stop permitting the latter to cooperate directly with and prevent tilting of the fork.

15. In a loom, in combination, two fillingdetectors normally adapted to detect filling failure on alternate picks, mechanism to change the operation of the loom and directly controlled by one of the detectors, a vibrating hook having a shoulder to cooperate with such detector upon, filling failure, and means, independent of the hook, operative upon detection of filling failure by the other detector, to cooperate directly with the first-named detector and prevent movement thereof by filling engagement, to thereby insure the operation of said directly-controlled. mechanism.

16. In a loom, in combination, main and auxiliary filling-forks normally adapted to detect filling failure on alternate picks, a slide on which each fork is mounted, mechanism to change the operation of the loom and directly controlled by the main fork, a vibrating hook having a shoulder to cooperate with the tail of such fork upon detection of filling failure thereby, outward movement of the auxiliary slide by or through detection of filling failure by its fork effecting an initial outward movement of the main slide, and means, independent of the hook and rendered operative by initial movement of the main slide, to assume control of the main I name to this specification in the presence of fork and maintain such control until out- 1 two subscribing Witnesses. Ward movement of the said vibrating hook has efiected engagement of its shoulder with EVERETT WOOD 5 the main fork-tail, to thereby insure the full Witnesses:

outward movement of the main slide. GEORGE OTIS DRAPER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my I ERNEST W. W001). 

